What is the best CBD oil to purchase? 5 helpful tips for buying CBD oil

 

Photo shows a CBD oil tincture and salve to the right hand sign. Behind them is a decorative cardboard storage box (pink, green and marble), a succulent in a glass terrarium, a plant in a yellow pig planter and a sign that reads "today I'm feeling amazing".
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Cannabidiol oil (CBD oil) derived from industrial hemp is increasing in popularity and becoming more readily available. Full spectrum CBD oil stimulates the body’s endocannabinoid system and may offer relief from symptoms such as chronic pain, anxiety and disruptive sleep.

Why Use CBD oil from Hemp?

Unlike cannabis, hemp extract contains very low levels of THC. THC is the psychoactive component of the plant.

This means that CBD oil derived from industrial hemp does not cause you to feel high. It’s, therefore, legal in the UK and the majority of U.S states.

CBD oil is not habituating and is safe to use. It’s a natural alternative to prescription medications and is a popular choice of treatment for Fibromyalgia patients.

Cbd Oil Delivery

There are different CBD products available to use, such as lotions, salves, gel capsules, vaping oils and oil tinctures. CBD oil tinctures and vaping may have systemic benefits, whereas salves and lotions tend to offer localised relief.

When it comes to choosing a CBD product, it’s really a case of researching to see which is likely to offer the therapeutic benefits that fit your needs. Often it’s a case of trial and error; trying the different products and deciding which is right for you.

nganic cbd products shop now

 What To Consider When Buying CBD Oil

However, like any supplement, not all CBD products are created equally. It’s important to do your research to ensure that you choose a CBD product that is high quality and contains what the label says it does.

It can sometimes feel overwhelming trying to decide what the best CBD oil to purchase is. To make things a little easier for you, here are 5 tips to consider when buying CBD oil.

Stick around until the end of the post and I’ll also share a recommendation for a CBD oil I’ve been trying recently.

Tips for Buying CBD oil & Choosing THE BEst CBD Oil for You

1. Look For CLear Labelling

Legitimate companies are happy to show you the ingredients of their products online as they have nothing to hide. Check their website for a list of ingredients to see exactly what is in each product.

What is in the ingredients list?

Look for CBD oil products that contain minimal ingredients and that are free from preservatives, fillers or unnecessary ingredients. The fewer ingredients, the better.

Often CBD oil products contain a carrier oil, such as olive oil or hemp oil. These can affect the overall taste of the product so keep this in mind as we all have different preferences.

Some products, such as tinctures, vapes and gummies will be flavoured. Try to avoid artificial flavourings and instead opt for CBD products that use essential oils, such as peppermint oil.

Where & how is the hemp grown?

Also look to see if you can find out where and how the hemp was grown. Which country was it grown in and do they have strict controls about how hemp is grown?

Is the hemp certified organic and free from pesticides?

If you are purchasing CBD oil in the USA, I’d recommend buying from a company that sources their hemp from an American farm.

In the UK, there is an organisation called the Cannabis Trades Association UK (CTA UK).

Their aim is to ensure that their member businesses continue to trade legally and ethically in the Hemp and CBD market. CTA UK lists their member businesses on their website, which is a good starting point for sourcing UK CBD oil.

Extraction Method

What was the extraction method used? CO2 extraction is the most popular choice as it allows for extraction without the use of harsh chemicals or solvents.

With CO2 extraction, pressurised carbon dioxide is used to extract the CBD oil. This method is expensive to do (as it requires specialist equipment) but the end result is a safe product that maintains the purity of the CBD oil.

Some companies choose to extract CBD oil with ethanol, so if you are sensitive to alcohol be sure to avoid these products. This method also extracts chlorophyll, which can cause side effects. It may be filtered out of the end product but this tends to lessen the potency of the CBD.

Does the CBD product contain full spectrum or isolate CBD?

As the name suggests, CBD isolate is CBD alone. Whereas, full spectrum CBD contains an array of cannabinoids and terpenes that can offer additional therapeutic benefits.

It was once believed that CBD oil on its own was more potent as it contained a higher concentration of Cannabidiol. However, research from the Lautenberg Center for General Tumor Immunology in Jerusalem (2015) demonstrated this wasn’t actually the case.

Researchers gave either CBD isolate or full spectrum CBD to two groups of mice. They concluded that the full spectrum CBD oil was most effective.

This is known as the ‘Entourage Effect’. The components combined together have a greater effect than when used alone.

This doesn’t discredit CBD isolate, which can still be effective on its own. However, it shows that full spectrum CBD oil can offer additional benefits.

2. Look For Lab Testing Certificates

To ensure the quality of their products, many companies have their CBD oils tested in a lab. Lab tests can verify the potency of CBD and the purity by checking for any potential contaminants, such as bacteria, fungus and pesticides.

Look for companies who certify their products with lab tests and who are open and transparent about it. Legitimate companies will display these certificates on their website for you to see.

It is also worth doing a quick online search about the laboratory who has performed the testing. You will want to ensure that they do exist and frequently perform these tests.

If the lab results are not listed on the company’s website ask to see them. Any reputable company will be happy to send these to you.

3. Be wary of health claims

By law, companies are not allowed to make health claims about the CBD products they sell. CBD oil is sold as a food supplement and not a medication.

Reputable companies, therefore, will not mention health conditions or how CBD may help these on their websites.

Be wary of any company who claims CBD is a miracle cure.

4. Be Aware of Low-Cost CBD Oils

There are so many companies selling CBD now and the price can vary from very low to high. When buying CBD oil, it’s really a case of you get what you pay for.

CBD oil is not cheap. The low-cost oils, therefore, contain very low concentrations of CBD.

Unfortunately, these cheaper oils are unlikely to have the symptom-relieving benefits you are looking for.

Make sure you understand the strength of CBD that you are purchasing. And, do your research to educate yourself on whether this is likely to offer the results you are looking for.

The Strength of CBD oil

Figuring out the strength of CBD oil can be confusing. It is either listed as milligrams (mg) or as a percentage.

When looking at percentages, make sure it means the total percentage of CBD. Some companies may list the strength as the total percentage of hemp oil (rather than CBD). This can be misleading as it makes you think there is more CBD in the product than there actually is.

If the percentage isn’t listed, you can work this out yourself. It involves a bit of maths as the total volume of CBD oil bottles will be listed in millilitres.

One milligram is equal to 0.001 millilitres. Start by multiplying the number of milligrams of CBD by 0.001 to convert to millilitres.

Once you have this figure, divide it by the total volume of the bottle contents. Finally, multiply by 100 to get the percentage.

As an example. If you have 1000mg CBD oil in a 30ml bottle the math would be as follows:

  1. 1000 x 0.001 =1
  2. 1 / 30 = 0.033
  3. 0.03 x 100= 3.3

This bottle, therefore, contains 3.3% CBD. To make life easier, there is a CBD calculator online that you can use.

Dosing: Why Stronger isn’t always better

When choosing a CBD oil, it is natural to think the stronger the better. However, this isn’t necessarily the case.

Each of us is unique and we will all respond to CBD differently. It is actually best to start with a lower dose and build it up until you find the right dose for you.

Starting low will make it is easier for you to find your optimal dose whilst avoiding any unpleasant side effects.

There are no official dosing recommendations for CBD oil but companies will list the dose of CBD per serving on the bottle label so you can work out how much you are taking.

5. If in Doubt, Contact the company

Reputable companies will happily answer any questions you have about their product. If you are confused about the strength, how much to take or want to know more about the product, get in touch with the company.

How a company responds will often tell you a lot about them.

Can they provide you with more information about their products? Are they transparent and directly answering your questions?

If you are in any doubt about a CBD product, do not buy and look elsewhere.

The CBD Oil Tincture I’ve Been Using Recently

As I mentioned in my 10-month stem cell update, I have started using CBD oil again. In the past, I’ve used CBD oil for my Fibromyalgia.

I stopped taking it when I started my stem cell treatment at Infusio.  I was recommended to stop taking all my supplements at that point.

This was to prevent anything from potentially interfering with my stem cells during the early stages of healing as they got to work multiplying within my body.

As I’ve had some symptoms crop up recently, such as anxiety and mood swings, I decided to reintroduce CBD oil to see if it would help.

Unfortunately, the brand I was using previously became difficult to get hold of. Whilst researching for a new CBD oil, I was contacted by a US company called Nganic.

Photo shows the Nganic 1000mg CBD oil tincture and salve on a wooden shelf. There are are two cacti in the background in pink pots and marble, copper, grey and pink triangle patterned wallpaper.

CBD Products by Nganic

Nganic is a family-owned company who produce organic, lab-tested CBD products from hemp grown in the USA.

Nganic were impressed with my blog, knew I was a fan of CBD products and asked if I would like to try their 1000mg CBD Hemp Oil tincture and  1000mg CBD Salve.

nganic cbd products shop now

Trying CBD Products from Nganic

After researching the Nganic products on their website, I was happy to try them. I have to say I am impressed with the products!

The CBD salve is non-greasy and absorbs well into the skin. It smells lovely thanks to the lavender oil and– because it contains coconut oil–it is very moisturising.

After using the salve for a week, I actually decided to gift this to my mum as she has arm and knee pain that she struggles with.

I thought she needed it more than me and was interested to get her thoughts on the product too. My mum has found it helpful in relieving her pain but commented that she needed to use it a few times throughout the day to maintain relief.

I believe my Dad has been stealing some of the CBD salve too! So it has gone down well in their household.

The Nganic 1000mg CBD Hemp oil tincture

I have been using the 1000mg CBD Hemp Oil tincture from Nganic for about 3 weeks now and, so far, I have found it particularly helpful for reducing anxiety, promoting calmness and improving the quality of my sleep. I find it best to take in the evenings as it is so calming and can make me feel sleepy.

I am going to continue to use the CBD oil tincture and I intend to write a full review in the coming weeks.

Where to Buy Nganic Cbd Products

nganic cbd products shop now

For now, if you are interested in checking out Nganic products, you can visit their website.

Nganic offer free shipping on all U.S orders. They do ship to the UK but be aware that you will be liable to pay customs fees, which can be costly.

FURTHER READING:


Have you found these tips for buying CBD oil helpful? Or do you have additional tips to share? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you.

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Pinterest pin reads "5 tips for buying CBD oil. Learn how to choose a high-quality product."*Disclosure: I was kindly gifted the 1000mg CBD Hemp oil and 1000mg CBD Salve from Nganic to try.

 

 

 

Donna Grant

Hello, I'm Donna. I'm a Scottish artist who lives with chronic illness. My blog began in 2013 as a means for me to share and connect with others living with chronic illness. On my blog, I have shared my journey back to better health and the diagnoses I faced along the way. I now work as an artist and sell my products in my online shop. I continue to write about chronic illness on my blog and also share helpful posts about art, business and bullet journalling.

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